If you have ever been to one of our nationwide showrooms, you may be aware that we can help you design your new kitchen and also provide a realistic illustration of how your finished kitchen will look using ArtiCAD’s leading kitchen design software. In this case study, we take a look at a recent design by our Camden showroom manager, Marek Nagajek.

The rectangular shaped kitchen Marek was tasked with planning measured 6.2M x 3.4M. He faced a few challenges – the first being that the customer wanted an area where they could work and secondly the exposed brick chimney breast, which the customers were keen to turn into a feature. The kitchen included two windows, a single door and a boiler which also had to be considered as part of the design.

The plan Marek drew up follows the popular L-shape design with cabinets running down the left-hand side and the back of the kitchen. The addition of a central island not only adds extra worktop space but also storage and the option for seating. The space at the back of the room would make an ideal seating area for entertaining or relaxing .

At the far end of the kitchen are a variety of drawers and cabinets, along with a contemporary Reginox ceramic single bowl Belfast sink. The wall unit to the right of the cooker hood conceals the boiler and on the left-hand side, are floating shelves. These shelves are a useful addition to give some utility to an otherwise awkward wall space.

On the other side of the feature chimney breast are more floating shelves as well as a standard base cabinet and drawer unit. Next to these stands a pair of solid oak full height cabinetsoffering ample storage space. Solid oak cornices and plinths have been added to the tops and bottoms of the cabinets to add a finishing touch to the kitchen.

If you are looking for a new kitchen why not pay a visit your local showroom? We are always happy to assist with planning and design and can provide realistic illustrations allowing you to visualise your dream kitchen. Do not forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest for even more great inspiration or subscribe to our newsletter for updates and information about new products, special offers and competitions.

You do not need to buy a brand-new kitchen to achieve a fresh look in your home. In this blog post, we explore how to update your kitchen on a budget.

New Worktops

One of the most significant features in your kitchen is the worktops and if yours looks a little tired, replacing it with a brand new one is a guaranteed way to freshen up your cooking space. We supply many different types of materials, but if you are looking for an inexpensive option, our laminate surfaces are ideal. Costing from just £60, our oak effect, walnut effect, Taurus beige and white laminate worktops not only look great but are easy to install and maintain.

New Cabinet Doors and Drawers

Aside from worktops, the next features to catch your eye in a kitchen are the cabinet doors and drawers. By removing your old frontals and replacing them with brand new versions, you can lift the feel of your kitchen and give the appearance of brand-new cabinets. Our standard Traditional and Shaker doors start from just £55. To learn how to install them visit our guide on How to Choose and Install Cabinet Doors.

New Handles

If you think replacing entire cabinet frontals is a bit extreme, you can achieve a similar effect by just swapping your handles. We supply a wide selection of knobs and pull handles for both contemporary and traditional settings, so you are bound to find one that will instantly freshen up your kitchen.

Replace Old Taps

Accessories or fixtures made from stainless steel, chrome or aluminium create a real distraction if they are tarnished, damaged or tired. Taps are a good example of this. If yours are past their best why not replace them and add the shine back into your washing area.

Conceal Your Bins

Clearly, bins are an important accessory, but having them on display is not always best for your kitchen’s appearance. Our Easy-Cargo waste bins are available in a 40L single bin or 19+30L dual designs. They have been made to fit inside your cabinets so that you can easily conceal unsightly refuse.

Now you know how to update your kitchen on a budget, which of these tips do you think you will try? Let us know in the comments below. Do not forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for even more stories like this or subscribe to our newsletter for updates and information about new products, special offers and competitions.

Solid wood kitchen cabinets look great in a classic style kitchen. This classic kitchen mood board takes inspiration from a customer of Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets. Which aspects would you consider?

Colour

This classic kitchen features a range of different colours. For example, the Shaker cabinet doors have been painted in Farrow & Ball’s Lime White to match the walls. The pale colour works particularly well with the dark coloured flour – a shade that is highlighted and used for the handles and knobs. The worktop has a granite style which you could emulate with a Winter Carnival worktop.

Features

Full height cabinetry is a popular feature in many kitchens and offers excellent opportunity for storage. The alcove next to the range cooker presents an ideal solution to include full-height cabinets without taking up additional floor space.

A granite worktop has been utilised on the peninsula and adds much interest in the kitchen. Granite is an expensive and difficult to install material, so a worktop that replicates the pattern, such as our granite effect Winter Carnival worktop is a great, cost effective alternative.

Solid oak floating shelves, which tie the whole kitchen together, have been included as a way to display attractive kitchen items such as pans and bottles. Displaying items like this is the perfect way to add your personality to a kitchen.

Which parts of this classic kitchen mood board would you feature in your kitchen? Let us know in the comments below. Do not forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest for even more great inspiration or subscribe to our newsletter for updates and information about new products, special offers and competitions.

Instagram is one of the best places to find inspiration for your kitchen. If you are one of the many Instagram users, you might be wondering how to take Instagram kitchen pictures that are worthy of the best interior design influencers. To help you capture beautiful photos of your kitchen, we have enlisted the help of Chantelle, our in-house photographer, who has given us her four top tips.

Lighting

Choosing the right time of day to take a photo is imperative, after all, even the most stunning kitchen can look gloomy with inadequate lighting. If your window is east facing, take your pictures in the morning as this light tends to give the best results – conversely, west-facing windows do not get optimum light until the evening. It is important to remember that focusing directly on the window can result in the room appearing darker.

If your kitchen does not receive a lot of natural light you can, of course, use artificial light sources to improve brightness. Under cabinet lighting and spotlights are ideal for this and can be used to highlight focal points in your kitchen. You can read more about lighting in our ultimate guide to kitchen lighting.

Position

One of the key challenges with kitchen photography is trying to avoid making the room appear smaller than it actually is. The trick here is to position the camera on the angle, rather than head-on. This adds depth to the photograph and makes the room appear more spacious. Taking a picture from a height allows you to capture the full width of the kitchen – again making your room feel more spacious.

Be Aware of Reflections

Kitchens tend to be filled with reflective surfaces such as metal kettles, taps, appliances and high gloss worktops. This makes it all too easy to accidentally capture unwanted reflections in your kitchen snaps so be cautious when positioning the camera around shiny objects and double check your images before posting.

Add Your Personality

Adding your personality through the use of decorative touches will bring your kitchen to life. The aim is to achieve a lived-in feel without making the space look too cluttered. You can do this by using accessories such as vases of flowers or open shelving with cookery books but the key to making your photo stand out from the rest is to add things that reflect your own style and personality.

Do not forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and, of course, Instagram for regular updates and ideas. You can also subscribe to our newsletter for weekly updates on kitchens, trends, offers and more.

We all know that choosing the correct colour scheme can affect the design of a kitchen but did you know that it can also change how you feel? In the second of a series of posts, we explore the psychology of blue kitchens.

Credit : Farrow & Ball

Blue is a conservative and traditional colour that is popular for its soothing feel. It has an air of calmness and serenity that adds a peaceful, tranquil and secure ambience, bringing a sense of order to any room it is used in. Conversely, blue is sometimes associated with sadness or detachment, especially within art, and has connections with appetite loss – which makes a lot of sense when you consider that blue rarely occurs naturally in food. For these reasons, it needs to be used wisely in a home so as not to give off the wrong feeling.

Credit : Farrow & Ball

There are many shades of blue, from delicate baby blue to vibrant and rich ultramarine. Colours such as teal have subtle additions of yellow and when used in combination with a variety of other shades can either emphasise or diminish blue’s calmness and change the overall sensation of a kitchen. Inchyra Blue by Farrow & Ball is a great example of how blue can be transformed when yellow is added to create a green tinge. Depending on the light, this dark moody tone can even look grey.

Credit : Farrow & Ball

How to Use Blue Effectively in a Kitchen

Although calming, using blue in a kitchen can create a bold statement – more so with the rich shades than the powder hues such as Pavilion Blue. Using blue in a controlled manner results in a subtler design – introducing blue accents on accessories or appliances for instance. In this example, Farrow & Ball’s Lulworth Blue helps to retain the light airy feel of the kitchen.

What do you find appealing about blue kitchens? Let us know in the comments below. Do not forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest for regular updates and ideas or subscribe to our newsletter for weekly updates on kitchens, trends, offers, and more.

Nowadays there are so many kitchen styles to choose from it can make achieving your perfect design tricky. These inspirational kitchens are here to spark your imagination, so continue reading to find ideas to implement yourself.

The combination of full-height cabinetry with curved worktops and cabinets make this beautiful kitchen both stylish and functional. Featuring Farrow & Ball’s Lime White, this kitchen is light and airy.

Cream coloured cabinets paired with mid to dark toned worktops and handles work in harmony to create a well-balanced traditional style kitchen.

The peninsula is a prominent feature in this kitchen and the cabinets, which have been left unpainted to expose the natural wood, are allowed to take centre stage.

This one wall kitchen has been designed in a traditional style. It features full stave oak worktops, cabinets painted in Farrow & Ball’s Wimborne White and a ceramic Belfast sink.

With the sink and hob installed in this island, the focus of this kitchen is central. The minimalist colour scheme and contemporary style make this design highly modern.

Blue is the colour of choice in this kitchen. The exposed brickwork and solid wood flooring help to create a traditional feel in this welcoming cooking space.

The combination of dark and light colours creates a striking contrast resulting in a contemporary feel that is accentuated by the use of stainless-steel appliances.

The seating area on this island allows for a social space. Perfect for preparing meals, entertaining or dining – this kitchen has it all.

Another kitchen with blue cabinet frontals, this time organised into a U-shape. The undermount stainless steel sink and Shaker doors are just two features that give this kitchen a contemporary feel.

The full wall pale green splashback not only looks great in this kitchen but also serves to protect the wall from splashes and stains – as well as giving this kitchen a modern touch.

G-shaped kitchens, like this one, optimise worktop and storage space. Here, the peninsula has been turned into a seating area to add space for dining.

This is a fine example of a farmhouse kitchen. Everything from the choice of wood to the stools is traditional, giving this kitchen an authentic and welcoming feel.

This kitchen has both dark worktops and flooring. However, the use of pale blue walls lightens the room. Solid wood floating shelves give extra storage space and add to the contemporary appeal.

Dark worktops combined with light cabinets and walls to deliver a well-balanced colour palette in this L-shaped kitchen.

Which of these kitchens most inspire you? Let us know in the comments below. Do not forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest for regular updates and ideas or subscribe to our newsletter for weekly updates on kitchens, trends, offers, and more.

In the world of kitchen design, styles change from season to season. With that in mind, we take a look at four of the most anticipated kitchen trends for summer 2019.

Warm Metallic Accents

Metallics have been popular for a while and adding them to your kitchen this summer is a great way to update your home. Brass or copper fixtures can be added to kitchens easily – for example, door handles can be replaced to give your cabinets a fresh feel. Warm metallics in a kitchen with a neutral colour palette will stand out and catch the eye. The warm coloured metals complement the hot summers that are just around the corner.

Pull-Out Storage

Every kitchen, large or small, can benefit from smart storage. Utilising pull out storage, such as wicker storage baskets, instead of shelves helps to achieve a timeless appeal. They give you plenty of space and can be tucked away when you are not using them. The ones that we supply are available in widths to suit either 500mm or 600mm wide cabinets. These are perfect because they remind us of wicker patio furniture and long summer days.

Statement Splashbacks

Splashbacks are becoming increasingly popular now that there are many more exciting patterns being introduced to the market. Splashbacks that make a big impact in terms of colour, pattern and textural contrast will be on trend this summer. In particular, those with a shiny surface or that have the effect of stone, such as stainless steel and marble effect will be big. Splashbacks are the perfect backdrop for introducing colour and can set the overall tone for your kitchens trends.

Stone Islands

Often referred to as the heart of a kitchen, islands have to exemplify form and functionality. Natural stone surfaces definitely have plenty of style, but they can be prohibitively expensive. Laminate worktops are a great way to recreate the look of solid stone for less. We offer stone, quartz, granite and marble effect varieties to suit any kitchen.

Which of these kitchen trends for summer 2019 are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments below. Do not forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest for even more great inspiration or subscribe to our newsletter for updates and information about new products, special offers and competitions.

Are you looking for a way to spend less time cleaning your kitchen? In this blog post, we discuss easy clean kitchen ideas so you can spend more time cooking and entertaining instead.

Easy Clean Worktops

There are several options to consider for an easy to clean countertop and laminate and solid wood are both good choices. Stone worktops can sometimes have indentations which can gather debris, becoming unhygienic. Laminate work surfaces, on the other hand are an extremely low-maintenance option and are not only easy to clean but also highly durable. As long as you maintain the surface with oil, solid wood worktops are quick and easy to clean too.

Easy Clean Splashbacks

Tiles are a good choice for protecting your walls however they require a lot of work as the grout can become dirty. Splashbacks are an ideal solution to this problem. They are functional and also easy to clean because they do not require grout for installation. If you have set your heart on tiles, consider the larger sized ones as they give you less grout surface to clean.

Easy Clean Flooring

It is inevitable that kitchen flooring will become dirty and with that in mind, you will need something that is easy to clean food and spills from. Carpet should be avoided but other materials such as laminate and vinyl are ideal. Our guide to kitchen flooring materials explores some popular materials and focus on their advantages and disadvantages.

Appliance Storage

Keeping appliances such as blenders, toasters and coffee machines out on the worksurfaces definitely makes it quicker to use them, however, they also gather dust, grime and oil quicker. Our top five kitchen organisation ideas has some amazing organisation inspiration for you to consider. The trick is to store them somewhere you can quickly get to them when you need them. One of the advantages of this is because your worktops are free of clutter you can clean them quickly and your kitchen will tidier when not in use.

Do you have any easy clean kitchen tips? Share them in the comments below. Do not forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for even more great inspiration or subscribe to our newsletter for updates and information about new products, special offers and competitions.

Although solid wood kitchen cabinets look good in a traditional style kitchen, they can work well in contemporary settings too. This industrial kitchen mood board offers inspiration so that you can achieve a similar look in your own home. Let us know what you think.

Colour

Many industrial kitchens feature a dark colour scheme. These Shaker cabinet doors have been painted in Farrow & Ball’s Stiffkey Blue but could work equally well with Studio Green or even Pitch Black. To contrast with the dark cabinet colours a lighter coloured worktop has been included – in this case, a concrete effect laminate worktop. You could also lighten up the space by introducing reflective metals such as stainless steel. The sophisticated colour scheme makes a statement and complements the industrial theme.

Visible wood does not feature much in this mood board and in fact the only place that we have introduced it is in the floating oak shelves. Again, the light colour lifts the darker shades of the cabinets.

Features

Exposed brickwork is a popular feature in industrial interior design but sometimes it is not practical or even possible to do. One alternative is to hang brick pattern wallpaper. There are many realistic options out there, such as the one by I Want Wallpaper.

The use of metal also helps to achieve an industrial feel. In this mood board we have included American copper pull handles which not only have a dark colouration but also complement the pendant lighting. The Rangemaster Glendale stainless-steel sink which, unlike the handles and the light, has a shine. This helps to reflect light back into the room, balancing the dark shades of the surrounding décor.

The concrete effect laminate worktop is a nod to the brutalist roots of industrial interior design. Concrete is an expensive material to use and is difficult to install, so a worktop that closely resembles the authentic material is a fantastic alternative.

Finally, solid oak floating shelves lend themselves perfectly to this design style and will contrast beautifully with the exposed brickwork wallpaper and the overall design of the kitchen.

Which parts of this industrial kitchen mood board would you feature in your kitchen? Let us know in the comments below. Do not forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for even more great inspiration or subscribe to our newsletter for updates and information about new products, special offers and competitions.

Whether you enjoy the occasional glass of wine or are a connoisseur, finding a special place in your kitchen to store your bottles is a good idea. These uniquely beautiful kitchen wine racks are perfect for a wide range of kitchen styles, personal tastes and budgets, so crack open the 1947 Château Cheval Blanc, sit back and enjoy this inspiration.

Solid Oak Wine Rack Base Cabinet

Our solid oak wine rack base cabinet is made from 18mm thick solid oak panels and measures 720mm x 300mm x 570mm. It holds 20 bottles of wine in total and can be seamlessly integrated into your kitchen’s design. The classic style makes it ideal for both contemporary and traditional kitchen settings. A 150mm wine rack is also available.

WM12 wine rack by Buoyant Wine Storage

This stylish cable wine storage system is incredibly minimalist and so is suitable for a contemporary kitchen. The chrome plated brass, stainless steel and black walnut which it has been constructed from, give it a sophisticated feel. This allows it to perfectly complement black American walnut, wenge or black oak worktops. With a 12 bottle capacity, this wine rack is also available in a 96 bottle version.

Live Edge Walnut Wine Rack by Raws Custom Shop

This live edge wine rack by Raws Custom Shop has also been made from solid walnut but has a much more rustic style. It has been hand made from Ohio walnut slab and black metal wire for holding wine bottles and glasses. You can easily see how this feature would work particularly well in a farmhouse kitchen.

Industrial Pipe Wine Rack by Case Concepts 2000

Case Concepts 2000 reclaim materials from barns, mills and farmhouses to create quirky items such as this industrial pipe wine rack. Suitable for a kitchen with an industrial feel, this industrial pipe wine rack holds three bottles in cleverly constructed from iron piping.

Wine-Stem Rack by Crate and Barrel

This wine-stem rack by Crate and Barrel is wall mounted for a space-saving solution. Made from acacia wood, the straightforward, farmhouse design would look perfect paired with iroko worktops. It can comfortably hold six bottles of wine as well as six stem glasses which hang underneath.

Which of these kitchen wine racks would you display your wine in? Let us know in the comments below. Do not forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest for regular updates and ideas or subscribe to our newsletter for weekly updates on kitchens, trends, offers, and more.